Orsintel​
Case studies
01
Pre-investment due diligence in western Europe
We worked on a due diligence project for a financial institution which was evaluating a possible investment in a western European telecoms company. The client wanted to know whether there were any financial crime or terrorist financing-related risks involving the company, its shareholders and senior executives.
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Our public record research uncovered that the company’s ultimate beneficial owner had strong connections with government officials from an African country and that there were major concerns over his source of wealth. Our research also revealed that he was under criminal investigation for alleged corruption.
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As a result of our findings, we understand that the client decided to temporarily place its investment plans on hold, pending further assessment of the issues.
02
Asset tracing exercise in Brazil
We worked on a large open-source asset tracing exercise in which the objective was to identify assets owned by a Brazilian firm which was heavily in debt to a multinational company. In alignment with the client’s local law firm, we conducted comprehensive public record research into the target company, connected companies, and the full range of shareholders.
We found numerous commercial and residential properties belonging to these various shareholders. The client and the law firm used the information for subsequent legal action against the debtor company.
03
Know your customer (KYC)-driven DD in the UK
As part of a periodic KYC review, an international financial institution wished to understand whether one of its high-net-worth clients, a Middle Eastern businessman based in the UK, posed any new risks to the business from an anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) perspective. We conducted a thorough review of the businessman’s footprint in the UK public domain, carefully analysing the most recent press coverage on his career, corporate interests and close affiliates.
Our research uncovered no new issues of concern and confirmed that his salary continued to derive from a UK financial services company of which he had been a director for many years. The financial institution was satisfied with the report and was happy to retain the relationship with the businessman.